Women's soccer celebration
1
Portland POR (5-8-2, 1-3-2)
2
Winner San Diego USD (5-8-2, 2-4-0)
Portland POR
(5-8-2, 1-3-2)
1
Final
2
San Diego USD
(5-8-2, 2-4-0)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Portland POR 0 1 1
San Diego USD 0 2 2

Game Recap: Women's Soccer |

Osejo's First Career Goal Lifts Toreros Past Portland 2-1

Portland native Ella Callanan opens the scoring and freshman Veronica Osejo nets the winner 16 seconds after checking in

SAN DIEGO — Veronica Osejo had been on the field for 16 seconds when she scored the first goal of her college career, and it sent San Diego women's soccer to a 2-1 West Coast Conference win over Portland on Saturday night at Torero Stadium.

Ella Callanan scored the opener, and goalkeeper Ilise Medrano made five saves as the Toreros beat Portland in their second-to-last home conference match of the season.

"This was massive," head coach Greg LaPorte said. "It was one of two home games we have left. ... Mathematically, we are still in the hunt. I told the group it's going to take all our tools, all our intention, be clean technically, work for each other, run for each other and urgency any time we get an opportunity."

San Diego outshot Portland 10-6 in the first half and put five of those shots on target. Callanan and Abby Haley each forced a save, and Kate Sealy put two shots on frame eight seconds apart in the 37th minute. Amanda Anders tested the keeper again less than a minute later.

Off a throw-in on the right side in the 64th minute, Kaylee Smith sent a cross into the middle that bounced off a defender. Callanan met it with her right foot and drove it into the upper-left corner from 12 yards for her second goal of the season. She finished with a team-high four shots.

"I just saw the ball at my feet," Callanan said when asked about her goal, "and the goal was not that far, so I just kicked it as hard as I could." 

"It was pretty special," LaPorte said. "Ella's from Portland, so that goal was pretty massive to kick it off for us and give us that boost of energy and confidence. But Portland, you know, we poked the bear. They came right after us and equalized, but I was proud of our group for their continuous fight."

The equalizer came in the 77th minute, and Osejo checked in for the restart. Sixteen seconds later, freshman Jonnie Quiroz pounced on a clearance in the middle of the field, took two touches forward and slipped a through ball ahead for her fellow freshman. Osejo fired on her first touch, a right-footed shot from 8 yards and put San Diego back in front for good.

"I blacked out, I was so excited," Osejo said. "Obviously I'm a freshman and my minutes are sparse, so when I go on the field I have to use that opportunity to give it my all. I saw the ball coming, so I just took it for a touch and just said, 'Hail Mary, let's see,' and I scored. I was so happy."

Medrano and the back line protected the lead the rest of the way. Portland managed two shots after the go-ahead goal, and Medrano turned away the only one on target in the 84th minute for her fifth save. Las Toreras scored on both of their second-half shots on target and finished with a 7-6 edge in shots on goal.

Osejo "puts it all on the line out there on the field and gives it everything she's got," LaPorte said. "That was special for her first career goal, and the team felt it and let her feel how happy and proud they were of her after the game."

UP NEXT
San Diego closes its regular-season home schedule Wednesday, Oct. 28, against San Francisco at Torero Stadium. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m., and the match will stream on ESPN+.
 
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